First there was ‘Bed & Breakfast’, now there is ‘Bed, Bus & Breakfast’ thanks to a Scottish entrepreneur who has developed the UK’s first sleeper mini-coach, which could transform overnight travel for groups of holidaymakers, as well as tour bands and university and school trips.

Alan Aim, a former tour guide who runs Cowdenbeath-based coach hire company Travel by Knight, has had the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 516 custom-built to include 12 sleeping berths for long-distance journeys.

The new, state-of-the-art vehicle, with its cheeky “Would you go to bed with me?” strapline, represents part of a £100k+ investment in the businessman’s Travel by Knight fleet, which also includes Scotland’s only tour band bus – a double-decker Ayats Bravo that can sleep up to 14, with TV entertainment lounge, kitchen area and toilet and was previously used by former X-Factor contestant and singer-songwriter Lucy Spraggan.

The mini version is fitted with multiple sockets and charging points, as well as a microwave and other mod cons including air conditioning. The mini-coach even offers its guests breakfast, including bottles of juice and water, as well as toiletries, in the morning to help them rejuvenate and freshen up on the go.

It can sleep up to 12 people, pull a trailer full of luggage or music equipment, and offers travellers the option to combine travel and accommodation costs, as well as ‘Save their Day with Travel by Knight’.

Alan said: “The latest addition to our fleet is a mini-coach with a difference. It’s fitted with 12 berths, each designed in a ‘reclining’ position instead of flat, so that more can be fitted in. Each berth has draw curtains, a magazine rack, a reading light, and a mobile phone USB charger port.

“Travel by Knight only offers private hires, which are ideal for small groups looking to travel long-distance in the UK overnight. We can offer a great alternative to spending spend six to 10 hours a day on the coach travelling, as well as many other transport and accommodation arrangements.

“The ultimate goal is to have a network of sleeper buses, connecting Glasgow all the way to Beijing – a sort of Trans-Siberian journey, but on tyres.”